Varna Airport (Bulgarian: Летище Варна, IATA: VAR, ICAO: LBWN) is the main airport serving Varna — Bulgaria’s historic maritime capital — and the surrounding northeastern region. Operated by Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD, it sits about 10 km from Varna, near the town of Aksakovo.
The airport’s roots go back to 1916, when two sheds were built in the Peinerdzhik (present-day Chaika) area as part of Bulgaria’s first hydro-port. Between 1919 and 1920, an irregular airmail service connected Sofia and Varna, but it wasn’t until 1947 that a regular commercial route was established. In December of the same year, a Junkers 52 aircraft landed at the primitive “Tihina” airfield, which was located near what is now the Asparuhov Bridge.
In 1946, authorities decided to build a modern airport several kilometers west of the city, near Aksakovo, with strong local involvement in its construction. The new airport officially opened on 9 May 1948, marking the first passenger flight from the site.
Over the years, Varna Airport went through major development: in 1961, a concrete runway (about 2,500 m long) was built and equipped with lighting for night operations. On 25 September 1972, a new passenger terminal was inaugurated, with three distinct blocks for administration, domestic lines, and international services. By 1974, the runway was reinforced to support larger and heavier aircraft.
Much later, on 15 August 2013, a brand-new Terminal 2 opened, offering modern facilities for both arriving and departing passengers.
Today, Varna Airport has one asphalt runway (09/27) with an ILS Cat I system on the 09 end. The runway is approximately 2,517 m (8,258 ft) long, allowing a variety of aircraft — from small props to large airliners — to operate safely.
In 2023, the airport handled 1,838,828 passengers and saw 13,850 aircraft movements. Its busiest period runs from late May to early October, driven by summer tourism.
For private jet hire or more information, contact us at +30 210 996 7870 (24 HRS) or info@jets4you.net